Loops

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

Just wanted to know what everyone thinks about loops since this varies depending on the game. A loop might add more to the game. But then again the maybe the effort should have been spent on making the best first loop possibe. Perhaps the game would have turned out the same as a 1st loop regardless and the extra loops are just gravy. I don't think infinite loops are a good idea myself. Because the level design falls apart at high loops.

What do you think?

[BulletMagnet]

I tend to think that there's room for both loop and non-loop games...the latter ones are good for a more "condensed" experience, while the former offers an extra challenge to those who don't mind sitting there for awhile. A handful of games actually let you adjust whether the game loops or not in the Options menu...never became much of a popular trend though.

[Rob]

2 rounds max, simply because it isn't 1986 anymore. For heavily scoring based games I'd prefer 1 round. Psikyo and Gradius could get away with 1. Konami could learn something from Psikyo. Instead of making the loops marginally more difficult, just go for 50x and be done with it.

[sjewkestheloon]

i don't like the idea that a person's score can actually be infinate due to infinate loops at all. i'd rather there be two loops so you can go for a 1cc of the first loop, or if you're feeling paticularly frisky, a second loop for score and table placement

[neorichieb1971]

I don't agree with loops at all.

What is the difference between having loops and a default/hard setting in the main menu?

[MOSQUITO FIGHTER]

What is the difference between having loops and a default/hard setting in the main menu?

There's more game avaliable to play on one credit which adds more to the score. Even if it's just the same levels with added difficulty or some have an extra boss.

Oh yeah I meant 1 round/Non loop for the first poll option. Sorry if there was any confusion. You get the idea.

[cigsthecat]

Loops are fine for some games, I enjoy that Psikyo puts them in. The crazy difficulty ensures that only the best players can even pretend to try and complete them. It is nice to always have something extra you can do in a favorite game.

However I'd really rather have an incredibly difficult game with no loop- and enough depth in that first round to keep you playing. Just another reason APB is a favorite of mine.

Infinite looping is bs and a thing of the past.

[Edge]

I prefer one loop, I think this makes the level design and score system more balanced. Because the designers could propably balance everything best when there is only one version of a stage. That's why I don't like non linear stage orders. Two loops would also be ok, because I really disagree with the idea of infinite loops.

But I do like the idea of special bosses or stages as reward for 1CCing a shmup.

[captain ahar]

much as it pains me to say this, given my undying devotion to gradius, 2 should pretty much be standard. just enough flexibility for different play styles.

... not that i'll be seeing a loop of anything in the near future.

[sven666]

infinite loops arestupid,but ine or two is ok aslong as there is a special bonus in the end (extra boss etc)..

ed: for me that is, endureance playing in gradius 5 for example is a skill of its own, i just dont have the nere for it.
infinite loops totally killed Gradius5 for me for example..

[it290]

I'm suprised with the lack of support for the two-loop system. For me it's perfect. The normal 'skilled' player can still feel like they've accomplished something with clearing the 1st loop, while the advanced player has something to come back to for replay value- and let's face it, more is kind of a waste, since very few people ever clear the second loop of a Cave or Psikyo game, for example. I always play for score rather than completion, but even so, if I'm able to clear a game consistently, I generally find it rather boring to continually play the same stages and eke out a bit more score. If Gunbird 2, DDP, etc, were 1-loop games, the high score tables would have less variation, because it would just be a contest to see who can get more points out of the 1st loop. In very high level play it gets to be that way anyway, but hey. It's also cool to see someone playing a very hard game, clear the 1st loop, and then do well on the much-harder 2nd loop.